Tray and bracket assembly



Jan. 31, 1967 SCOTT TRAY AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1964 INVENTOR. He?? .TJm/f BY Jan. 31, 1967 H. T. SCOTT 3,301,406

TRAY AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,301,406 TRAY AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY Henry T. Scott, 16971 Buckingham, Birmingham, Mich. 48009 Filed Oct. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 405,457 12 Claims. (Cl. 211-88) This invention relates to a tray and bracket assembly and more particularly to an assembly adapted to be removably mounted on a generally planar support.

There are many instances in which a planar surface, such as a table or the like, is used for some activity where the entire surface of the table is needed for the activity. Typical of such uses is a card table on which a card game of some sort may be played. It is often found that the table becomes cluttered with extraneous items that interfere with the activity, thus requiring a larger table or some other means adjacent the table on which such items may be placed. Such is often inconvenient because of space limitations or because such ancillary means interferes with the seating around the table or with other furniture adjacent the table.

The device in which this invention is embodied comprises, generally, a bracket and tray assembly which may be removably mounted on the planar support, or table, at a convenient location and which will support the interfering items. Such assembly includes a bracket member having a portion extending under the surface and in engagement with the underside thereof and a second portion extending over the top of the surface and in engagement with the upper surface thereof. A third portion extends outwardly from the support to receive a tray member, and suitable projections on the bracket retain the tray in place thereon. In its finally mounted position, the tray member is supported in somewhat cantilevered fashion from the surface of the support and may be used to receive any of the numerous items that would otherwise interfere with the activity with which the table is being used.

A bracket and tray assembly of the type herein described is relatively simple to manufacture and assemble and yet is of suflicient strength and durability to accomplish its intended purpose. The assembly is easily adaptable to supports of different sizes and different shapes, and both'the bracket member and the tray member may be manufactured in such a way to be aesthetically acceptable with the decor of both the planar support and the surroundings.

These and other advantages will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a planar support having a bracket and tray assembly mounted thereon.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the support and bracket and tray assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 of a thicker planar support with the bracket and tray assembly mounted thereon.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of the bracket and tray assembly illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom View of the bracket and tray assembly mounted on a planar support as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the bracket assembly.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the bracket member.

I directed leg portions 28.

"ice

FIGURE 8 is a perspective View of a modified form of the tray member of FIGURES 1 through 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGURE 1 best illustrates the bracket and tray assembly embodying the invention mounted on a planar support. In FIG- URE 1 a support, illustrated generally by the numeral 10, may be a card table, or any other such piece of furniture. Support 10 includes a top 12 supported by a plurality of legs 14. Along the edge of the table top 12 may be a facing or the like 16.

The bracket member, illustrated generally by the numeral 18, is removably mounted on the table 10 in a manner to become hereinafter more apparent and supports the tray member, illustrated generally by the numeral 20, in any position around the circumference of the table 10 although preferably at the corner of the table, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The tray member 20 is removably mounted on the bracket member 18 in a manner to become hereinafter more apparent.

Referring to FIGURES 2 through 6, the bracket member 18 includes a main body portion 22 formed in a U shape. The body portion 22 may be conveniently formed of an inner wire-like material 24 suitably covered with a rubberized material 26 or the like to protect the various surfaces with which the assembly is used. The ends 28 of the U-shaped body portion 22 are bent out of the plane of the body portion to extend upwardly and rearwardly, as illustrated in the various figures of the drawing, to engage the undersurface of the table top 12, as indicated in FIGURE 2.

Disposed transversely of the body portion 22 of the bracket member 18 and intermediate the ends thereof is a second member of generally U-shaped form, illustrated generally by the numeral 30. Such member is also formed of a rod-like material 32 covered by a suitable covering 34 to protect the surface of the support 10. Member 30 is rigidly secured to the body portion 22, as by Welding or the like, and has an upstanding portion 36 disposed at substantially right angles to the U-shaped body portion 22. The upper portion of member 30 is bent outwardly and rearwardly, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, and is disposed in generally parallel spaced relation to the U-shaped body portion 22. This portion of the member 30 is intended to overlie the upper surface of the table 10 and cooperates with the angularly bent legs 28 to secure the bracket member 18 on the support 10. As may be seen from the drawings, the bracket member 18, in effect, hangs from the support 10 on the rearwardly directed portion of member 39 and is held in its horizontal position by the angularly upwardly bent legs 28. Thus, the end of the U-shaped body portion 22 extending beyond the surface of the support 10 forms a secure mounting place for the tray member 20.

i In order to maintain the horizontal position of the body portion 22 when the bracket member is mounted on the support 10, the dimension between the underside of the rearwardly bent portion of member 30 and the ends of the angularly upwardly directed legs 28 is important. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, this dimension is substantially the same as the thickness of the table top 12. Reference is now made to FIGURE 3 showing a table top 12' of greater cross sectional dimension as compared to the table top 12 of FIGURE 2. In FIGURE 3.

the angularly upwardly bent legs 28 have a lesser degree of bend from the plane of the body portion 22 in order to increase the critical dimension between the ends of the legs and the rearward portion of member 30. It is to be understood that the dimension might otherwise be maintained by cutting off or shortening the angularly upwardly The distance between the rearwardly directed portion of member 30 and the body portion 22 of the bracket member 18 is provided to permit the bracket member to be secured to a support having a facing 16, or the like around the edge thereof, as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. It is apparent that the angulation and length of the upwardly directed leg members 28 cooperates with the distance or spacing between the rearwardly bent portion of member 30 and the body portion 22 to permit mounting on a support with such facing 16.

Member 30 is provided with arcuately inwardly directed mid portions 38 between the rearwardly directed portion and the body 22. Such inwardly directed intermediate portions 38 provide a stop means for the bracket member 18 should the bracket member be mounted at the corner of the support 10 to prevent the bracket member from being mounted too far inwardly on the support and thus interfere with the mounting of the tray member, as well become hereinafter more apparent.

The ends 40 of the member 30 extend upwardly as at 42 from the body portion 22 and are then bent forwardly as at 44, that is, in a direction away from the support 10. Such projections 44 provide a means for mounting the tray member 20.

Tray member 20 may be formed of any suitable material, such as a ceramic, and may be formed in any suitable shape. As illustrated in the drawings, tray member 20 includes a flat body portion 46 which is provided with an upwardly directed peripheral edge 48 forming a rim around the surface 46. Rim 48 fits conveniently under the projections 44 on the transverse member 30 when the flat surface 46 is properly disposed on the U-shaped body portion 22 forwardly of the member 30. As such, the tray member 20 is securely held in place on the bracket member 18 to receive the articles with which it is to be used.

Depending from the underside of body portion 46 is a peripheral flange or lip 50 interrupted at its corners as at 52. Interruptions 52 are of sufiicient dimension to receive the U-shaped body portion 22 of the bracket member 18, and the spacing between opposite sides of the lip 50 is substantially the same as the transverse dimension of the body portion 22 so that it nestles within the lip or projection 50. Cooperating with the lip 50 in locating the tray member 20 on the bracket member 18 is a central projection 54 so located as to engage the inner end of the U-shaped body portion 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5. With the tray member 20 properly engaged under the projections 44 and properly located with the body portion 22 in the interruptions 52, the projection 54 will just engage the end of the U-shaped body portion 22 inside the curvature thereof, to prevent any longitudinal movement of the tray relative to the bracket member 18. It is apparent that tray member 20 may be reversed end-for-end on the bracket member 18, the lip 50 and the central projection 54 being so located as to permit mounting in either direction.

As has been heretofore noted, the bracket member 18 is preferably mounted at the corner of table 10. In so doing, the rearwardly extending legs 28, being spaced, will straddle the leg 14 of the table and the upper portion of member 30 will engage the upper surface of the table. Since the projections 44 on the transverse member 30 must receive the lip of the tray member 20, it is important that the bracket assembly 18 be mounted in such position relative to the table 10 so as not to interfere with the engagement between the lip and the projections. For this purpose the arcuately inwardly directed mid portions 38 of the member 30 engage the table corner when the bracket is properly mounted thereon. The mid portions 38 prevent the corner of the table from projecting inwardly between protuberances 44 in such manner as to prevent the edge of the tray from moving toward the table to the proper position beneath the protuberances.

FIGURE 7 illustrates another form of the bracket member having a body portion 22 substantially the same as that previously described with leg members 28 angularly and upwardly directed to engage the undersurface of the support. The intermediate transverse member 56 is formed of two pieces, the first piece 58 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the body portion 22 and having its ends secured to the body portion 22 in some suitable manner, as by welding or the like. The upper portion of member 56 is bent rearwardly to a position in spaced parallel relation to the body portion 22 to overlie the support in the manner heretofore described.

A third rod-like member 60 is secured to the member 56 in some suitable manner, as by welding, and extends thereacross to act as a stop means for the bracket member as it is mounted on the support 10 in the same manner as arcuate portions 38 of bracket member 18. The ends of the member 60 project forwardly as at 62 in parallel spaced relation to the body portion 22 to receive the tray member as heretofore described.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a modified form of the tray member in which the undersurface 64 is provided with a plurality of spaced projections 66, so located as to prop erly locate the body portion 46 relative to the bracket member. Such projections 66 take the place of the peripheral lip 50 with its interruptions 52. A fifth projection 68 extends from the center of the undersurface 64 so as to locate the tray member relative to the bracket member and in engagement with the curved end of the U-shaped body portion 22.

It will now be apparent that the bracket structure may be so formed as to receive many types of objects other than the particular tray member shown in the drawings and described in the foregoing. Within the concept of the invention are such objects as cups, glasses, ash trays, plates, pans, and the like, suitable modification being made in the body portion of the bracket member to receive such objects.

It will also be apparent that the tray member, or other object, may be fixed to the bracket member if desired. Furthermore, the bracket member itself may be formed in any suitable manner from wire, metal casting, or stamping, plastic, wood, or any other suitable material or forming process.

Thus, a bracket and tray assembly is provided which may be easily and removably mounted on a generally planar support, such as a table or the like. The assembly is securely mounted on the support for receiving extraneous articles which may be placed thereon, and may be mounted anywhere around the periphery of the sup port at the whim of the user. It is preferred that the bracket and tray assemblies be mounted on the corners of the table, and in mounting at the corners the spaced legs of the bracket conveniently straddle the table leg. Means are provided on the bracket to limit the inward movement on the bracket relative to the table so that the table corner does not interfere with the mounting of the tray member in its proper position and retention on the bracket assemblies. The assembly is extremely easy to manufacture and put together, and when mounted on the support provides a means to avoid interference with the activity with which the support is used.

It will be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations to the structure hereinbefore described and illustrated will readily occur to those having ordinary skill in the art after having had reference to the foregoing. However, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention by the foregoing description and drawings, but by the scope of the appended claims in which:

I claim:

1. A tray and bracket assembly adapted to be remov ably mounted on a planar support and comprising:

a bracket member having a portion extending rear wardly and upwardly to engage one surface of a support and a second member secured to said bracket member extending upwardly and rearwardly to en gage the other surface of a support, said bracket member having a U-shaped portion extending forwardly and said second member having projections extending forwardly in parallel spaced relation to said U-shaped portion;

and a tray member received on said U-shaped portion of said bracket member and having an edge received under said projections to maintain said tray on said bracket member, said tray member having protuberances extending therefrom and engaged with said U- shaped portion to locate said tray member relative to said bracket member.

2. A tray and bracket assembly adapted to be removably mounted on a planar support and comprising:

a bracket member having first means engaging one surface of a support, second means engaging the other surface of a support, and a portion extending outwardly, said second means limiting the position of said bracket member relative to a support;

a tray member received on said outwardly extending portion of said bracket member and having means thereon engaging said portion and locating said tray member relative thereto;

and third means extending outwardly from said second means and engaging said tray member to retain said tray member on said bracket member.

3. The tray and bracket assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein said bracket member is formed of a plurality of rod-like members.

4. The tray and bracket assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein said first means includes a pair of angularly upwardly extending legs adapted to engage said one surface of said support at the ends thereof.

5. The tray and bracket assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein said second means includes a member extending transversely and normally from said bracket member and having a portion thereof extending inwardly and overlying the other surface of a support.

6. The tray and bracket assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein said third means include projections extending from said transverse and normal member, said projections being disposed in parallel spaced relation to said outwardly extending portion of said bracket member.

7. The tray and bracket assembly set forth in claim 6 wherein said second means and said third means are part of the same member secured to said bracket member.

8. The tray and bracket assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein said transverse and normal member is a U-shaped rod-like member having the ends of the legs thereof secured to said bracket member and a part of the loop portion thereof bent toward a support and in parallel spaced relation to said bracket member.

9. The tray and bracket assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein said means on said tray member includes a downwardly depending peripheral lip extending around the side of said tray member received on said bracket member,

said lip being interrupted at spaced points to receive said.

and further including a projection centrally disposed on said side of said tray member to engage said bracket member and limit longitudinal movement of said tray member relative to said bracket member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,080,865 5/1937 Lassiter 108--25 X 2,260,774 10/1941 Dorsett 108-25 2,614,782 10/1952 Jackson 108--26 X 3,181,485 5/1965 Dotson et al 108-97 3,212,742 10/1965 Pavoni 248226 X CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS,

Acting Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

12. The tray and bracket assembly set forth in claim 11 

2. A TRAY AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON A PLANAR SUPPORT AND COMPRISING: A BRACKET MEMBER HAVING FIRST MEANS ENGAGING ONE SURFACE OF A SUPPORT, SECOND MEANS ENGAGING THE OTHER SURFACE OF A SUPPORT, AND A PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY, SAID SECOND MEANS LIMITING THE POSITION OF SAID BRACKET MEMBER RELATIVE TO A SUPPORT; A TRAY MEMBER RECEIVED ON SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID BRACKET MEMBER AND HAVING MEANS THEREON ENGAGING SAID PORTION AND LOCATING SAID TRAY MEMBER RELATIVE THERETO; AND THIRD MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SECOND MEANS AND ENGAGING SAID TRAY MEMBER TO RETAIN SAID TRAY MEMBER ON SAID BRACKET MEMBER. 